One-legged Tom Banton heroically scores 46 batting at No.11

When Tom Banton twisted his ankle while playing football before Day 3 of Somerset’s clash against Surrey, his club (Somerset) feared that he would be unable to bat and that they would only have ten batters in the second innings of the clash.

However, late on Day 3, with Somerset reduced to 153/9 in the second innings, Banton pulled off the ultimate hero act, walking out to bat on one leg. He ended the day unbeaten on 28 and stitched an unbeaten 31-run stand with Craig Overton.

Banton resumed Day 4 still in pain, but he added 18 more runs to his overnight tally of 28 to help take Somerset to 224 and set Surrey a target of 221 in the fourth innings. Banton’s stand for the 10th wicket with Overton - which came on a single leg from his end - was a staggering 71.

On the fourth day, the 25-year-old brought the internet to a standstill by reverse-sweeping Shakib Al Hasan, the pick of the Surrey bowlers in the game, to the boundary on a single leg. As it turned out, though, Shakib had the last laugh, dismissing Banton in the 64th over to bring an end to Somerset’s innings.

Shakib finished with five for the second innings and nine for the game. 

Earlier in the same game, Archie Vaughan - son of England legend Michael Vaughan - picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. Banton, meanwhile, smashed 132 runs in the first innings of the clash before twisting his ankle prior to the start of the third day’s play. 

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